Banana-pro-bag uses cradle-to-cradle design to regenerate a large number of discarded banana leaves and banana trees in the process of planting into banana paper bags and banana fiber ropes to protect the fruits. It not only solves the problem of huge agricultural waste, but also prevents fruit damage through the waterproof, high hardness and strong toughness characteristics of banana paper, and achieves an environmentally friendly cycle through recycled manufacturing.

The ethylene secreted when bananas are ripe is naturally discolored by the test paper to identify the fruit maturity. The illustration reminds banana farmers of harvesting, deworming and other actions. When bagging, banana farmers only need to stand in place and pull the rope down to tighten the bagging, greatly reducing physical exertion and reducing the risk of operation.

|Problem analysis|

1. The huge agricultural waste of banana leaves and banana trees breeds pests and diseases and hinders operations

According to research, only 12% of the fruits of the banana are used during the process. Worldwide, about 114.08 million metric tons of banana waste-loss are produced, leading to environmental problems such as the excessive emission of greenhouse gases.

2. The different quality of banana fruit bag leads to pests and diseases

The existing banana bag materials cannot effectively prevent the ravages of pests and natural disasters. Among them, the most pathogenic banana yellow leaf disease has caused huge economic losses. According to the survey of banana sample farmers in the Philippines, the annual loss is about 917 million US dollars.

3. The banana tree is too high to be easy to set and replace the bag

Banana plants are mostly located at high altitudes, so banana farmers need to climb ladders to set and replace them every time, resulting in inconvenience and high time costs in the operation process.

|Interview |

Mr. Chang / Banana farmer / Grow bananas for up to 20 years

Q1: What is the purpose of a banana bag?

Banana bag is used to avoid the sunshine and prevent insects and temperature, to ensure that the fruit can be full and beautifully mature during the growth period of two to three months.

"Demand for better quality bagging to protect fruits"

Q2: What are the advantages and disadvantages of different bags?

Paper bags are now the bulk, and blue plastic bagging ranks second. Waxy paper bag has many advantages. It is insect-proof, sun-proof and antifreeze-proof. It is not easily affected by changes in temperature, cold and heat, and the fruits produced are more beautiful. The blue plastic bag having holes makes it easy for insects to run in, and it is easy to get hot and airtight, and the banana skin that grows will have scars and spots.

"Waxy paper bag will pollute the environment"

"Poor use of plastic bags"

Q3: How to put on the bag?

After climbing the ladder, wrap the bag around the fruit, tighten it with plastic rope and tape and seal it at the fruit shaft to prevent rainwater from sliding in and the bag from being blown away by the wind.

"Using a lot of plastic rope is not friendly to the environment"

Q4: What to do with the bagging after removal?

The removed bag is used as a protective pad during fruit harvesting to avoid scratches caused by direct contact between banana skins and the soil. Paper bag is mostly recycled for treatment or as soil fertilizer, while plastic bag is directly thrown away.

"Recycling bag is not environmentally friendly"

|Design concept |

Banana-pro-bag uses cradle-to-cradle design to regenerate a large number of discarded banana leaves and banana trees in the process of planting into banana paper bags and banana fiber ropes to protect the fruits. It not only solves the problem of huge agricultural waste, but also prevents fruit damage through the waterproof, high hardness and strong toughness characteristics of banana paper, and achieves an environmentally friendly cycle through recycled manufacturing.

The ethylene secreted when bananas are ripe is naturally discolored by the test paper to identify the fruit maturity. The illustration reminds banana farmers of harvesting, deworming and other actions. When bagging, banana farmers only need to stand in place and pull the rope down to tighten the bagging, greatly reducing physical exertion and reducing the risk of operation.

|Using process|

STEP 1

Put Banana-pro-bag around the fruit.

STEP 2

Tighten the rope down to tighten the opening place.

STEP 3

Complete the operation process according to the location reached by the discoloration of the test strip.

STEP 4

Wait for 2-3 months and then open the bottom of the bag to observe the fruit's maturity.

STEP 5

The removed bag is padded under the banana when harvesting to prevent it from touching the soil.

STEP 6

Crush the used bag as soil fertilizer.

|Test paper production|

Vesicles wrapped in polydiacetylenes were made from the monomer of PCDA, 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid and the reactive PCDA of ethylene with a mercapto group at the end. When exposed to different stimuli, polydiacetylenes will change from blue to red. Then these vesicles are thinly coated and crosslinked to the surface with ultraviolet light to complete the production of the test paper.

According to the concentration of ethylene secreted by the banana fruit when it matures, the color change of the paper is used to remind the required work actions at this stage.

|Circular design|

STEP1

Abandoned banana leaves and trees during planting and after harvesting

STEP2

Feed into banana paper and banana rope manufacturers for recycled manufacturing of complete sets of bags

STEP3

Banana-pro-bag for fruit protection

STEP4

Bagging as a protective cover at harvest and soil compost after harvest (estimated to decompose in 2-3 months)

STEP5

cut banana tree

*0 waste

*Efficient treatment and upcycling of biological waste

*Create agricultural circular economy and reduce environmental pollution

*Prevents threats such as pests and increases the chance of fruit survival

|Future|

1.Use in other fruit bagging

In the future, the design and development of different fruit bags, such as pear bags, grape bags, mango bags, lotus fog bags, loquat bags, bitter gourd bags, avocado bags, dragon fruit bags, etc., will be made from agricultural waste.

2.Farmers' Crop Storage Bags/Sales Bags and Buffers for Sale

Sturdy and waterproof, it can be used as a carry-on storage bag when harvesting vegetables and fruits. Provide buyers with protective bags for fruits and vegetables and protective buffer bags.

3.Business model

Banana-pro-bag will be planned to carry out strategic cooperation with recycled banana paper manufacturers, and it is expected that mass production of banana paper will be the future direction.

Early stage

1. Cooperate with physical agricultural tool stores and farmers' associations to demonstrate the efficacy of actual products, promote the operation and operation of products, and promote their convenience.

2. Participate in agricultural equipment exhibitions, and promote banana farmers in domestic exhibitions as the main marketing and sales targets.

Late stage

1. Increase funds and promote the internationalization of products, participate in international trade fairs and export malls related to agricultural tools, follow the trend of the European Union's circular agricultural economy, and sell products abroad.

2. Put online advertisements on various platforms, such as: PChome, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, etc. to increase exposure and promotion, and establish sales channels to provide online purchases.

|Market analysis|

Planting quantity

3 acres with about 1500 banana trees

Huge needs of Banana bags

According to the Statistical Database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO Stats), the total global banana production reached 116 million tons, and the harvested area reached 5.1 million hectares.

Estimated to be about 788,730,300 banana trees (bags).

Based on the cost evaluation of banana paper bags, recycled paper, and ropes on the market, the selling price is estimated at three times the cost. The cost falls between US$0.098-0.16 according to whether the banana farmers provide waste banana leaves or not.

Compared with the existing bagging, the price is higher, but this bagging can effectively reduce waste and loss, and has high-quality fruits to increase sales for evaluation.

The low-cost method will let banana farmers know that they can save money in other places through the production description and price calculation of bagging, such as: manpower, loss, etc. High-quality bagging will be more valuable in export sales.

|Circular Agriculture Abroad|

The rise of sustainable circular agriculture

With the development of the concept of a sustainable circular economy, the EU has formulated a carbon border adjustment mechanism plan. Starting from 2026, tariffs will be imposed on high carbon emission products to improve the resource utilization efficiency of natural and recycled materials. It is an urgent matter.

|Carbon Footprint Estimation|

Carbon emissions of banana industry

The Oxford University data platform (Our World In Data) cites research published in the journal Science that each kilogram of bananas produces about 0.86 kg of carbon emissions.

In addition to the carbon emissions from the cultivation process, the remaining carbon emissions are mainly concentrated in the transportation phase (about 0.3kg).

Reduced carbon emissions using Banana-pro-bag compared to conventional bagging

Worldwide, about 114.08 million metric tons of banana waste-loss.

The manufacturing process offsets the manufacturing carbon emissions of virgin bagging, where handling waste is included in the calculation of manufacturing materials.

Using waste to regenerate bagging, the estimated carbon emissions are 99.11 million.

|Product value|

1. Use waste banana leaf recycling banana bag

Recycle agricultural waste into an important tool in the planting process, and improve the color and beauty of the fruit and export it.

2. The process of setting can be completed remotely

The long rope on the bag allows the banana farmer to easily complete the suit by simply standing on the ground and stretching.

3. Fruit maturity index diagram

Through the color change of the test paper, it can help banana farmers to identify the maturity of the fruit, and open the bag in time to check the quality.

|SDGs Goals|

1. Bring high convenience and high-efficiency operation quality to banana farmers, which is in line with 2nd item to eliminate hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

2. Solve the problem of huge agricultural waste and conforms to Item 12 to ensure a sustainable consumption and production model: before 2030, the generation of waste will be significantly reduced through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.